Summer: Week 1

Summer is officially here!  Let the party continue (see my previous post).
This week was full of great adventures.
Cole and Izzy started the week with a sleepover at Grandma Oborn's house on Sunday night.  My Aunt Sandra was in town from California and was staying with my mom, so it was like having two Grandma's around.
We added a third Grandma and a Grandpa to the mix on Monday as we picked up the Granparent's Desmond and went to Liberty Park to play in the water, picnic and just enjoy the outdoors.  We hoped the weather would cooperate, but we ended up with quite a bit of wind and made it back to our cars just before the rain started.
Wednesday we went bowling.  Gotta love the Kids Bowl Free program. 
Thursday we braved the outdoors again by going to the Bingham Copper Mine with our friends, the Starrs.  We arrived there around 10:15 and were unexpectedly kicked out promptly at 11:30 due to a mine blast that would be "too close for safety".  The kids had a quick tour of the visitor's center, but at least they were able to see the movie there.   Cole and his friend Julie had high hopes of being able to see the mine blast.  I think they were just a bit disappointed when they realized that just wasn't going to happen.  Anyway, we headed out of the mine area and decided to try picnicking once again.  This time at Copperton Park.  Once again, the rain came.  This time it was a downpour.  We huddled under umbrellas until it was clear enough to make a run to the car.  We had to promise the kids we would come back to that park...the literally got to play for about 2 minutes before it rained.
Friday we took our zoo to the zoo with cousins, Bonnie & Allie.  They have the dinosaur displays there right now.  Cole was all too anxious to get sprayed by the various dinosaurs as they spit water out of their mouths.  Izzy was a bit more reserved, but enjoyed watching Cole get wet.  Carter seemed to just be amazed at all the commotion around him.  The zoo was busy, but the kids were all whiny and crying by the time we left, so they must have had a good time, right?!

"What's going on out there?"

Cole bowling!

Isabel taking her turn!  (She danced as the ball went down the lane.)

At the Zoo!

The famous lion's mouth drinking fountain.

On the carousel.

Three little monkeys!

Dinosaur attack!

Blessing Day!

McDonald's Happy Meal:  the birthday girl's choice for lunch!

A "flat guitar" from Grandpa & Grandma Oborn!

Her one request for her birthday (she watches way too much Dora)...a pinata!

Baptism Day!

A new bike!

Coke & Mentos...the highlight of Cole's science themed party!

 

The past few months have brought a lot of happy times for our family.  

In April we celebrated Cole's 8th birthday.  In May Isabel turned 4 and Carter hit the magical one year mark. 

Perhaps the greatest thing for all of us was Carter being taken off "house arrest" (as we affectionately referred to it) and being allowed to go out in public with the rest of us. After going nearly an entire year without going places as whole family, this new routine has taken some getting used to.  Our older two kids still occasionally ask who's going to stay home with Carter as we prepare to go out. It's so great to remind them that he can go with us. 

Along with Cole turning 8, he was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  We had a great couple days of partying as we celebrated this event in his life with family, friends and food.  

The day after Cole was baptized, Carter was blessed.  So again, we celebrated with family, friends and food.  

We couldn't let Isabel feel left out, so on her birthday we partied again, but on a much smaller scale.  

As Carter's birthday approached our family reflected on this last year and the great services we have received from so many.  We wanted to say thank you to all our family and neighbors and friends we made in the NICU for helping us through this past year, so we ate and partied again.  Jarad fired up the grill and we BBQ'd in the POURING rain. The weather might not have cooperated, but the company and food was still good!

Now as summer comes we say let's keep partying...we have a whole last summer to make up for!